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I've noticed most experienced players seem to advise against the use of purely-Defense boosting moves, like Amnesia, Cosmic Power, Iron Defense, etc., and I just wanted to discuss their viability, especially in LU and RU. Firstly, most defensive boosters rely on Toxic to do damage (With a few exceptions, like Sigilyph), meaning Steel and Poison types wall them completely. That said, Steel Pokemon aren't nearly as common in NU and LU/RU, and Poison types aren't really a staple anywhere, notwithstanding things like Weezing and Drapion. After Steel and Poison types are removed, the other thing defensive boosters need to worry about are phasers (I find Cradily makes an excellent solution to this). Now, of course defensive boosters are inherently set-up bait for more offensive sweepers (Go to hell, Klinklang...), so a good defensive booster should ideally be paired with a sturdy revengekiller, in case things go wrong. Also, defensive boosters' own weapon can often be turned against them; Toxic will severely limit their lifespan. As such, Rapid Spin and Heal Bell support is always appreciated.So anyways, I'll wrap this rant up with a few defensive booster sets.

I've faced one of these before. It was a pain, but it couldn't do any damage to steel types or poison types. It was also absolutely crushed when I used taunt. A good player shouldn't have much difficulty getting around it, it's just annoying.

I suppose they can be removed, but you still face problems with heal bell and substitute. Pretty much, if it can take on toxic, this set is doomed. There may be cases where it works, but it's best to grab something that can fend for itself.

I hate this guy...with a passionate hate. He's probably the most annoying RU pokemon out there. Really, I think the reason these are seen less in higher tiers is because they are seen as inferior to Light Screen and Reflet since these can be used by the whole team, which help a lot in this offensive metagame.

You can try to frame it with negative words like “taking a game too seriously,” but passion is passion. If you don’t have something you strive to be excellent at, then you aren’t living at all. Everyone should have something that he or she takes “too seriously.”

Dude. THIS is the ultimate defensive booster. It may look like a gimmick, but if you manage to set up but one Amnesia on a special sweeper, you can win. Believe it or not, I've actually swept with this sucker on a few occasions. Behold, the ultimate tank (well, maybe :P)

The only reason this is viable at all, and many will say that it is not, is on account of its ability, Simple. Stat boosts and drops are doubled. Essentially, one Amnesia gives you +4 special defense. Life Orb Modest 252 Sp. Att Alakazam's Psychic will do 16% to 20% to this Numel after one Amnesia. Here's the funny part; 252 Sp. Def Shuckle IN SAND takes 17% to 20%. Yup.

Is this a gimmick? Of course. Does it actually work? Depends on how you use it, and how you support it. This thing requires A LOT of team support, but that's sort of obvious. Something like Cresselia, which can get up Reflect and Light Scree, then use Lunar Dance to give Numel a free switch. Do this on a special attacker. While they're busy laughing, use Amnesia. As they switch, use Curse. Rest as necessary. When you've had your fun, obliterate stuff with EQ. Just make sure you kill all the fliers/ Levitators first. And all the Hazers. And Phasers. See? Lost of team support.

Crits suck. But then, crits always suck. Lucky Chant only lasts five turns, so meh. If you get crit, you get screwed. If not, this is the most fun defensive booster I've ever seen.

Feel free to take an offensive approach with Flame Charge and different EVs if you're into it. Numel is pure awesomeness once you get going.

Have fun!

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. SeussThis is Bidoof. Many people loathe it with their lives. If you are of the few people who love this little beaver, put this in your sig. Started by Warrior Scolipede

Originally posted by razorrozar7
Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor." He didn't say, "Love thy neighbor as long as they are straight, white, Christian, morally responsible individuals."

When people send out siglyph, they are basically saying please crit me, an additional problem is that most politoed seem to carry persih song, granted this will not affect lower tiers

Actually, no, Sigilypth is not asking for a crit anymore then Calm Mind Latias or Jirachi. Unlike most cosmic power boosters, it carries STAB Stored Power, so it's effectively getting a special attack boost as it uses calm mind as well.

Defensive boosters are bad because they accomplish absolutely nothing. Ok yeah, you Iron Defense'd and now I'm doing half damage. I don't care because your Pokemon is no more capable of killing me than it was before. So you can get to +6 defenses while I set up Spikes, heal myself, Rapid Spin, Swords Dance, Calm Mind or whatever. Then when I am ready I will find some way to kill your defense booster. Either by Tricking it, Whirlwind, Haze, overpowering it with my own offensive boosts, setting up a sub and fishing for a crit etc. Even if it is late game and I no longer have a solid way of killing your defense booster I can still just pound away at it. Your Shuckle or Cosmic Power Deoxys or whatever have no real offensive presence so more often than not they will be crit long before I lose.

Pokemon that use Amnesia, Cosmic Power etc are generally bad but those that use Bulk Up, Calm Mind, or Curse are different. They don't need to boost to +4 or +5 before they do anything. An attack boost or two makes Conkledurr, Mismagius, Snorlax etc far more dangerous because they can start killing before I get too many free turns. Generally I won't find time to set up Spikes or heal against anything that boosts its offenses because those Pokemon can punish me for giving them even a single free turn. Worse still is Dragon and Quiver Dancers, and Shell Smashers that can exterminate a team in just one turn.

Defensive boosting without altering your attack is bad... with the exception of Sigilyph, but that thing is good for many more reasons than just Cosmic Power.

Actually, no, Sigilypth is not asking for a crit anymore then Calm Mind Latias or Jirachi. Unlike most cosmic power boosters, it carries STAB Stored Power, so it's effectively getting a special attack boost as it uses calm mind as well.

I've tried it, and it works better then you'd think.

Really? Even outside of any defensive vulnerabilities you are still basically using a mono attacker who can't touch the many dark types in ru such as spiritomb madibuzz drapion (other than statusing them) and they can attack / phaze in return. Then you have stuff like defensive slowking who can tank boosted stored powers all day long.